Building the Santa Barbara Ocean Collective

Building the Santa Barbara Ocean Collective: Sustainable Blue Economy Career Opportunities

Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is proud to announce the inaugural Blue Economy Symposium, an event dedicated to exploring and expanding sustainable ocean and coastal career opportunities within the Santa Barbara Channel. The symposium will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 4 -7 p.m. at the SBCC East Cliff Campus Campus Center.

The event — the first of its kind in Santa Barbara — is designed to foster greater awareness and engagement with the Blue Economy, a vital sector that encompasses sustainable fishing, aquaculture, coastal conservation, renewable ocean energy and blue tech. The symposium will also mark the launch of the Santa Barbara Ocean Collective, a unique partnership between SBCC, the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara (CFSB), SBCC Foundation, the City of Santa Barbara and the Economic Development Collaborative. This collaboration aims to build robust ocean career pathways and support the necessary infrastructure for sustainable ocean industries on the SBCC campus.

Event Highlights Include: 

Welcome Address: Attendees will be welcomed at 4 p.m. by SBCC representatives, setting the stage for an inspiring and informative evening.

Featured Speakers (4:15 – 5 p.m.): Renowned thought leaders in the Blue Economy will share their insights on the future of sustainable ocean and coastal industries

Panel Discussion & Q&A (5 – 6:20 p.m.): A diverse panel of experts from various sectors —  including sustainable fisheries, ocean management, aquaculture, tourism, marine construction, offshore wind, and blue tech programming — will discuss the practical applications and challenges of growing our region’s sustainable Blue Economy.

Reception (6:20 – 7 p.m.): The evening will conclude with a reception featuring non-alcoholic beverages and hors d’oeuvres, offering attendees a valuable networking opportunity.

Panelists Include:

• Peter Rupert, Ph.D., Executive Director, Economic Forecast Project & Professor of Economics, UCSB

• Tricia Ramos, Ed.D., Dean of Academic Affairs, Santa Monica College

• Chris Voss, President of Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara

• Craig Shuman, Ph.D., Marine Region Manager, California Department of Fish & Wildlife

• Doug Bush, Director of CA Operations, Ocean Rain Forest

• Jaime Diamond, President of Santa Barbara Landing and VP of the Sportfishing Association of California

• Ted Roche, President of Aqueous

• Holly Nolan-Chavez, Director of South Central Coast Consortium

• Karen Tillman, Associate Executive Director of Economic Development, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

• Kristin Miller, President/CEO, Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce

• Bruce Stenslie, Economic Development Collaborative

The Blue Economy Symposium promises to be an essential event for anyone interested in sustainable ocean industries, whether they are students, educators, business leaders, or community members. By bringing together key stakeholders from education, workforce training, economic development, and scientific research, SBCC aims to lead the way in developing the next generation of ocean stewards and innovators.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024

• Time: 4-7 p.m.

• Location: SBCC East Cliff Campus, Campus Center (see map)

• Parking: Parking is FREE on the SBCC Cliff Campus

• Admission: Free and open to the public

For more information and to register for the event, please visit the Evite event link.